Seeking your CNS certification is a rewarding journey, but the requirement for supervised practice experience (SPE) hours can feel daunting. The key to success? Think outside the box! There are countless opportunities to gain valuable experience while honing your skills and making meaningful contributions to your community. Here are some creative ways to earn hours towards your CNS credential that you may not have considered.
Community Engagement Opportunities
Start by reflecting on your community’s needs and your own social circles. Who could benefit from your expertise and knowledge?
Volunteer at free or low-cost clinics: These settings provide hands-on experience in developing practical clinical skills. The Working at a free clinic: a panel discussion about accessibility of integrative nutrition care video in the TNHC Resource Hub is a fantastic tool to get started.
Teach workshops: Offer classes in local venues such as libraries, gyms, schools, senior centers, community centers or workplaces. Possible audiences include:
Parents of athletic teams
Members of gyms or yoga/dance studios
Patients at a physical therapy or chiropractic clinics
Members of clubs (e.g;, book clubs, walking/running clubs, afterschool clubs, scouting groups)
Corporate employees in lunch-and-learn sessions.
Leverage Social Media: Use social platforms to connect with local or online communities or support groups. (Associations, such as the National Celiac Association, will connect you with local groups). Offer support to this community by developing resources or offering a workshop or webinar - and maybe even find future 1:1 clients!
Special Projects
Once you’ve connected with a community, create impactful tools and content:
Meal plans for eldercare or nursing homes.
Nutrition guides for athletes or injury recovery
Fun resources like an “Eat the Rainbow” challenge or nutrition label-reading tool.
Peer Collaboration
Partnering with fellow interns is an excellent way to gain experience and build confidence.
Mock Client Swaps: Exchange services with another intern and act as each other's clients to practice and refine your skills.
Friend & Family Swaps: Trade friends and family with another intern to gain fresh clients and varied experience.
Practice Buddy: Earn observational hours by partnering with a fellow intern to work together on cases, brainstorm ideas, review plans and provide feedback.
Collaborative Webinars: Team up with a peer to develop and deliver educational webinars to engage a wider audience - plus everything is more fun with a partner!
Deepen Knowledge Through Client Work
Let your client cases guide your learning. Each client can help you explore deeper insights into specific topics and conditions.
Research conditions and interventions relevant to clients to build a strong foundation of knowledge.
Create educational resources for your client AND take the opportunity to build your library of resources.
Use the TNHC Seasoned Practitioner Course and library of educational resources to dive into complex topics and broaden your understanding of complex topics.
Earning CNS supervised practice hours doesn’t have to be stressful. By tapping into your creativity, leveraging your passions, and engaging with your community, you can build practical clinical skills and meaningful connections. Whether it’s through teaching, collaborating, or creating resources, every step will bring you closer to achieving your CNS certification and making a real difference as a nutritionist.
Karen Herb MS CNS LDN IFMCP
Karen Herb is a nutritionist, mentor and CNS Supervisor at TNHC. Karen has 7 years of experience as a clinical nutritionist focusing her practice on personalized nutrition, gut health, nutrigenomics and collaborative care in multiple Functional Medicine clinics. We invite you to learn more about Karen and meet the entire supervisor team serving our nutrition students. We are passionate about helping our students earn their supervised practice experience hours and CNS credential and launch fulfilling and successful nutrition careers.
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